My Formula 1 System

Trampos Racing eventually arrived in the UK on the exact day that had been planned. They flew in with their full crew and equipment, and readiness was their crux. By that time, Luca had already spent his leftover days in London combining light rest with profound business surveys, meeting with his representatives and current or future collaborators.

He remained under careful supervision throughout, so he didn't miss any team briefings or analytics sent to him. While he kept his mind oiled and active, his physical condition also improved significantly. His body system was back to normal, the sickness was gone, and he was fully fit to get back into the cockpit.

The day before the rest of the grid began their final arrivals into Britain, Luca quietly returned to his villa.

The structure of the property remained appealing with its ravishing gardens and glistening walls. Luca knew he had made no mistake when he was pulling out the money for it. But now, he couldn't thoroughly see it the same way anymore, knowing what Sophia had been doing behind his back. She had brought in so many guests on different occasions, threw parties. When Luca looked at the pool, he could easily envision boys and girls in bikinis, swimsuits, and shorts. Maybe some had even once entered his room or his library.

Luca felt some distaste as he checked every room and hall, even though they were all neat. He came to a conclusion that Sophia had scarred this place, and he began to ponder a way to make her feel sorry, remorseful, and to also apologize without him having to take loud or impacting actions.

Money now flowed to him effortlessly like air, and Luca thought having another, grander place in the UK would be ideal, especially since this villa was extremely modern and sharply angled.

Perhaps this new house would carry the feel of old money—bigger, more symbolic, and with gravitas. And if his instincts would be right, placing an order that would bar Sophia from total access while the home remained open to everyone else in the family would be the most wicked but silent disciplinary measure. It wouldn't require his energy to speak or act.

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Once all teams had settled in across England, it marked the official preparations for the British Grand Prix coming the following Sunday after the one that just passed. Finding 18 different motorsport facilities for the 18 visiting teams wasn't a difficult thing in a country like England.

Trampos Racing were designated to the same facility from last year, as though it was now their ambassadorial building. Luca rejoined them officially on that very day of settlement, and nothing felt foreign to him because he had been keeping up remotely with every analytic, debrief, and development. All that remained was for him to get back into full physical shape and reclaim his seat in the car.

Trampos warmly received him, happy to have him healthy and ready for the British GP. Many crew members had even begun to wonder what they were truly capable of without Luca in the squad, and because of this prominent question and the role of importance Luca had embodied, the kind of respect he received from anybody in Trampos who wasn't in management, the Team Principals or engineering leads, was equal to the kind given to a crown heir.

It even reached a point where most crew members hardly dared speak to him unless spoken to first. It could be out of intimidation or out of awe, depending on the crew member; by gender or mindset. As for the management, team principals, and head engineers, however, the respect took a different form—less like reverence, and more like pride. They viewed Luca as both a personal and professional triumph, a living investment that had bloomed beyond even their highest expectations.

[SYSTEM ONLINE...]

[Generating workout session..]

Luca returned to physical action like a machine. He executed every rep, sprint, and cycle with a preciseness that had become second nature to him. He was curious if the recent sickness would trip him somewhere, maybe affect his stamina or stiffen his muscles, but none of that came. There was no post-weakness after the flu.

When it came to rest time, Luca checked his Status on the system, and also his Inventory to be sure of how many Tools and Tokens he had in total. After the Qatar Grand Prix, he had lost count, so he aimed to keep track.

Attributes and Skill values had barely changed. Yaw Flex and DRS Boost received single points from Qatar, taking them to (19) and (11) respectively. As for the stunning Heat-Energy Recycling, it was currently at (30). With that, Luca was sure he had just matched the same horsepower as an S-level engine consistently and not just in bursts.

[Current Inventory:

—Catalysts: 4

—Wrenches: 1

—Tokens: 1.6 ]

After the win in Qatar, Luca had received 2 Catalysts and 1 Wrench as a reward. He also received 1 Catalyst within two days of his return after the sickness. And for the Tokens, that was actually a massive leap from the 0.8 he remembered having! But when Luca deduced how he acquired the 1.6, he felt immensely proud of his performance.

Dominating Qatar's qualifiers by clinching the fastest lap in Q1, Q2, and Q3 had all accumulated 0.6 Tokens. Later on in the race, since he was obviously the fastest in that heat, he acquired the fastest lap top-up, which was an extra 0.2. The Token tally doubled, and Luca began to see some hope there, when he initially thought there wasn't.

He wondered if he should think ulteriorly and create a Skill that would multiply future-attained Tokens in order to make the entire meshwork easier for him in the long run. Luca thought that was an excellent idea, but he also had a few more concepts he would eventually weigh against each other on the virtue of preeminence and magnitude.

After the second day of the same routine of intense training and strategy meetings leading up to the British Grand Prix qualifiers, Luca accepted a warm invitation from Mr. Dieter Halvors, the FIA's Head of Driver Development and Youth Programs for the English Motorsport Community.

Mr. Halvors was a long-standing advocate for nurturing young talent heading into F3 or pro-karting. He had been closely observing how Luca had accumulated stratospheric internet fame with his return to his previous country, and so, he wished for a surprise guest appearance that would energize the kids just as they prepared to embark on their own racing season.

Mr. Halvors did have his fingers crossed when sending the invite because it came late compared to the other two drivers who had already been confirmed. But to his relief, Luca accepted right away and promised to be there, even if not on time.

Mr. Halvors believed that Luca's appetite for the visit stemmed from a desire to inspire young racers who idolized him and saw him as living proof that karting dreams could blossom into Formula royalty... blah blah blah. Luca just wanted to have some fun with the leaders of tomorrow.

The other two drivers invited were a surprising combo—Hank Rice and Yokouchi Yūichirō. Both of them had only been informed earlier that day that Luca would be joining them, so they weren't surprised when he arrived.

Fairmere Karting Institute was truly a prestigious one. It stood as the best in London, located in Weybridge, and was well-known not just for its impressive heritage, but also for its striking physical appearance.

The academy was bound by small hedge bushes and classic lamp posts that lined the roads leading to its central venue. The grounds were modern and meticulously kept, and the track featured there was about a quarter the size of a professional F1 circuit. When Luca asked an official he walked side-by-side with, the man answered that this particular track measured 1.1 km.

Luca thought that was impressive and beyond the usual standard for 9 to 17-year-olds. He wondered how their small minds must be beaming with joy at the thought of kicking off their new karting season.

Luca was ushered inside, where he met Hank Rice and Yokouchi Yūichirō. It was one of the most unprecedented encounters ever, but as grown men with shared understanding, they knew exactly how to relate and carry on the day seamlessly without a single fracture.

As they got settled at Fairmere, and with the children already making their way to the track, Luca noticed a familiar face by the entrance terrace. The man was Callum Darnley, a world-class professional golfer currently competing in the DP World Tour's British Masters. Luca assumed at first that the man was also here to meet the children, but he later found out that Darnley's young son was one of the academy's fresh inductees.

When they crossed paths, Darnley treated Luca wholesomely like an old buddy he used to drink beer with. The cameramen made sure they caught the moment for upload later. Darnley then leaned in with a father's smile and asked if Luca could spare more picture time for his son after the engagement. Apparently, the boy watched Formula 1 just to see Luca drive.

Luca saw no reason to disagree.

There were nearly fifty children at the Fairmere Karting Academy that day, with ages ranging from avid nine-year-olds to astute teens. Staff members buzzed around in branded jackets, trying to maintain order but failing to hide their own awe at the presence of three Formula 1 giants.

The cheer of the kids upon seeing and touching Luca could not be described. Mr. Halvors knew there would be a stampede to grasp the Mazerunner's attention the most, that was why he had arranged the three F1 drivers to come in sequence. Luca, being the surprise, came last when the kids thought the day's visit was already over.

He signed gloves, helmets, and sleeves. He also didn't mind that almost all the articles the kids brought over to sign were Jackson Racing products. When many of them, mostly the teens, voiced their disappointment that he betrayed the Silver Stallions to join what they called "Blob Club Trampos," Luca laughed it off and said he needed a car that could win more races.

At the end, Luca made sure he spent extra time with Darnley's son.

The entire session left him exhausted because he had come straight from team drills, but he was glad to physically see the fresh hunger in the eyes of the young. He couldn't help but wonder which of them might someday line up on the grid and who would be their great rival. Would any of them outpace his legacy?

At the end of the day, Luca ended up giving Mr. Halvors a ride in his car, a spontaneous offer after learning that the man's PA hadn't yet returned with his vehicle. The drive was short, smooth, and filled with Halvors' cheerful commentary on the intertwined legacies and histories of the big F1 teams, and how they arrived at where they are now today.

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A/N: 500 Chaps ✔️